Former escort has manslaughter sentence cut

A FORMER escort girl who hacked her wealthy lover to death with an axe yesterday had her five-year prison sentence for his manslaughter reduced to three-and-a half years by the Court of Appeal in England.

Janet Charlton, who was not present at London’s Law Courts for the ruling, was cleared of the murder of 41-year-old Danny O’Brien at her trial at Leeds Crown Court in May last year, but was found guilty of manslaughter.

Charlton, 36, inflicted at least 20 blows to Mr O’Brien’s head and shoulders with a fireman’s axe.

Yesterday, Mr Justice Jackson and Mr Justice Elias said they had reached the conclusion that the five-year jail term for manslaughter was “excessive”.

It is understood the decision means Charlton could be released in a few months’ time. Her solicitor Carl Kingsley said afterwards: “It was an excellent result. She will be very pleased. It is a very compassionate sentence.”

During Charlton’s seven-week trial, Leeds Crown Court heard how Mr O’Brien was found lying naked, gagged, handcuffed and blindfolded with the 2ft axe sticking out of his skull.

She killed him in May, 2001, at the home they shared in Midgley, Wakefield, West Yorks.